Oct. 17, 2008
Graduation rates for UTEP student-athletes continue to increase, based on figures released by the NCAA this week.
UTEP's Student-Athlete Graduation Success Rate (GSR) has climbed from 47 percent to 61 percent in two years. The GSR tracks graduation rates for first time freshmen enrolling in the falls of 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 and completing their degrees within six years. The GSR allows institutions to add transfers on scholarship and subtract student-athletes who are academically eligible and choose to leave.
The UTEP men's golf, softball and tennis teams all achieved perfect GSR scores of 100, and the men's basketball GSR of 64 was above the national average of 61.
The federal graduation rate accounts for all student-athletes who enrolled in school between 1992-93 and 2001-02 academic years. UTEP's graduation rate by these standards for student-athletes exhausting their eligibility is 76 percent.
"Our student-athletes continue to improve in the classroom for two reasons," said UTEP Director of Athletics Bob Stull. "First of all, it is a point of emphasis for all of our coaches. Secondly, [UTEP President] Dr. Natalicio has given us the resources to continue to increase academic support. The Miner Athlete Academic Center continues to work diligently with our student-athletes to maximize their opportunities to be successful academically, with the ultimate goal of earning a degree."
